Goldsworthy is the Lib Dem spokesman for communities and local government, responsible for council tax, policy on local income tax – in fact, most areas surrounding the idea of a "mansion tax".

And yet, according to friends, the Lib Dem leadership did not inform her of their plans.

Friends say that, had she known, she would have been able to iron out the problems that immediately befell the policy when it was announced – how do you value the property? How does the proposal sit with the party's existing pledges?

Instead, those briefing on the details were hazy.

What is becoming clear at this conference is that the Lib Dems are being organised with a structure quite similar to the infamous Blair-Brown duopoly, with Nick Clegg and Vince Cable close.

But, in the eyes of a growing portion of the shadow cabinet, they're too close. Clegg is supposed to regard placating his genius shadow chancellor (sound familiar?) to be more important than squaring the party.

They understand why he is doing it – right now, they think he has no choice – but Cable's status as a household name meant I was pretty shocked when one Lib Dem frontbencher said: "After the election, Clegg will have to sack Vince."